LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA, Fla. – A tragic incident occurred on Tuesday at a beach in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, where a young girl and her older brother fell into a sand hole and got trapped. The 7-year-old girl, Sloan Mattingly, tragically lost her life, while her 9-year-old brother, Maddox Mattingly, was critically injured. The children and their parents, who were on vacation from Indiana, were digging a hole in the sand when the incident occurred.
Broward Sheriff’s deputies and paramedics rushed to the scene after receiving a call, and Chopper 6 footage showed a large crowd of people standing around the massive sand hole that had been roped off. The two children were immediately rushed to the hospital in critical condition, and despite efforts, Sloan Mattingly did not survive.
The tragic circumstances surrounding this incident remain under investigation, as authorities work to understand how this devastating accident occurred. The initial report stated the girl was 5 years old, but it was later corrected to confirm she was 7 years old.
This heartbreaking event serves as a reminder of the potential dangers that can be present in seemingly harmless activities. The simple act of digging a hole in the sand, something many children do at the beach, unexpectedly turned into a tragedy for this family. The community is left grieving and seeking answers, as they grapple with the loss of a young life and the critical condition of another.